VERY IMPORTANT: THIS WAS A DOUBLE CHAPTER UPLOAD. THIS IS JUST THE EPILOGUE
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Welp. Here we are. The final chapter of Fire and Ice. Written over a two-year span, complete with breaks and hiatuses, the story is finally finished. I want to thank all my readers and reviewers for sticking till the end and I also want to apologize for the inconsistent upload schedules.
Epilogue
Several years later…
A man could be seen nervously waiting in front of a door of a house. He fidgeted in his spot, hand around a small box in his pocket. Moments later, the door opened to reveal a brown-haired man staring at him blankly.
"Hey, I uhh…need to talk to you."
The brown-haired man blinked twice before gesturing for him to come inside. "Sure. We can talk in the living room." He closed the door as they settled onto the living room.
"Let me guess…it has something to do with that ring in your pocket?"
"How did you- Never mind, I don't need to ask."
"Figures. So? What seems to be the problem?"
The man looked around the living room. "Where's the kid?"
"Upstairs in his room. His mother is out shopping at Dundorma."
"Ah, that makes things much easier…" He took a deep breath. "Look, I don't normally ask people for help, I mean this is me we're talking about here, but for once I really need your advice."
The brown-haired man raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. "Sure. What do you need me for?"
"You've probably guessed it already but basically…" The man took out the box and placed it on the coffee table. "I'm nervous about this…"
Silence. And then, the brown-haired man burst out laughing. "HAHAHAHA!"
"Wha-" The man turned as red as his hair. "What's so funny?!"
The brown-haired man apologized. "Sorry, sorry. It's just…You? Nervous? The former Fire King…the man who usually charges first in a hunt! Nervous about proposing to his beloved? Hah!"
"Rowan! I'm trying to be serious here damn it!"
"Apologies Siegfried. I'm just really surprised that's all." Rowan leaned back against the leather chair he was sitting on. "Well spit it out then. What sort of help do you need me for?"
Siegfried glared at Rowan but continued. "As I said, I need advice. I want to know how you managed to propose to Hilda without screwing up. Knowing Eris, if I screw up, she'll never let me live that down!"
Sounds like Eris alright. Rowan thought with a snicker.
"Anyway, I just want to know if you did anything special to help you propose. Did you take her out on a fancy dinner, did you hire people to clear out the area or something, or did you-"
"I'm gonna stop you right there Sieg," the hunter interrupted. "I can give you one piece of advice that is guaranteed to work."
Siegfried leaned forward eagerly. "And that is?"
Rowan grinned. "Just be yourself. That is all."
"…What the fuck kind of advice is-
"Shh! Language!" Rowan looked positively terrified now. "I won't tolerate any more cussing in this household, especially when my son is around, or else Hilda will kill me!"
Whipped… Siegfried thought, shaking his head. "What do you mean by 'be yourself'?"
"It means what it means Sieg. There's no need to go all fancy and elaborate. Keep it simple, but at the same time make it meaningful. You want it to be something memorable for both of you."
"How did you do it then?"
He snapped his fingers. "Simple. I proposed to her in a certain place close to both our hearts. The city library."
"And how did it go?"
Rowan grinned. "Very well if I do say so myself. She cried, we hugged, kissed, and well…you could say that secret room in the library is useful for more than just private reading if you know what I mean."
Siegfried groaned. "Oh god please don't tell me. Jeez, when did you get so cheeky?"
Rowan sighed happily. "Marriage changes people Siegfried…it really does. But I digress. Look, Sieg, there's no need to worry at all. Just be yourself and show her that you really love her, be direct and honest, and don't hesitate. Do that and she'll accept without a doubt."
"…You really think so?"
"You of all people should know that by now."
Siegfried chuckled dryly. "Heh, I guess you're right." He stood up. "Thanks, Rowan, it means a lot to me. And if you don't mind, can you keep the ring for me? Knowing that woman, she'll easily sniff it out. I'll talk to you again when the time comes."
Rowan slapped him in the back and took the ring box. "Anything for a friend of mine." He wiggled his eyebrows, "Plus, my kids could use a childhood friend growing up, so you better get to baby-making soon."
Siegfried elbowed him in the gut for that.
"Uncle Sieggy?" Siegfried stopped and groaned at the sound of that voice.
"You should really teach your kid to call me by my proper name next time."
"It ain't your idea remember?"
"I know…" Damn you Eris for teaching the kid that name.
Rowan shrugged apologetically and turned to greet his and Hilda's son. The four-year-old boy was the near-spitting image of his father, with the only difference being the mop of slightly longer black hair on his head that came from his mother. The boy, whose name was Donovan stared up at his father and honorary uncle with his big eyes.
"What were you talking about?"
"None of your business kid," Siegfried answered gruffly, turning around to leave.
The boy, having been used to Siegfried's attitude, pouted and quickly clung to the tall man's leg. "Uncle Sieggy!"
"Rowan control your son! And stop calling me that!" He shook his leg, but the boy stubbornly hung on. In fact, the boy began to giggle happily. "Oh, for crying out loud!"
Rowan couldn't help but laugh at the scene before him. His son not only had his parents as his guardian figures but Siegfried and Eris as well, who acted as the boy's uncle and aunt. Siegfried doesn't know this, but throughout the years, Rowan had discretely observed how the hunter interacted with his son, noting how subdued he was during those times. It was fairly obvious that Siegfried adored little Donovan, though he refused to admit it at times. Eris on the other hand, was a lot more openly affectionate, often spending hours talking to his son about various things. "It's funny, he really likes you despite how you act. Perhaps he knows that you're secretly a big softie on the inside?"
Siegfried turned as red as his hair. "Y-You…"
"Hello."
Both men nearly jumped at the sound of the familiar voice. There, standing by the doorway was Rowan's wife and now former leader of the Fated Four, Hilda. That title had now been granted to her husband after she retired from hunting to raise their son. Accompanying her, was none other than the Ice Queen herself and Siegfried's own beau.
"Hilda dear! You're back early…"
"They didn't have what I wanted," Hilda said, stepping into her house. She side-eyed Siegfried. "I also happened to meet Eris there as well."
The aforementioned woman stepped into the house as well and poked a finger onto her partner's chest. "What are you doing at Rowan's house?"
"I can say the same for you. Why did you come back with Hilda?"
"Touché." She looked down at the child still clinging onto his leg. Smiling, she crouched down to his level. "Hey, little one." She ruffled the boy's hair affectionately.
"Auntie Eris!"
"Great! Now that you're here, get your son off me please." Siegfried pleaded towards Hilda. The woman chuckled and leaned down towards her son.
"Are you going to let go of Uncle Sieggy's leg? Mommy brought some treats from Dundorma."
The boy's eyes lit up and much to the hunter's relief, he let go of his leg and allowed his mother to carry him. Rowan patted Siegfried's shoulder and followed his wife towards the kitchen. Siegfried rolled his eyes.
"Children…Cute, but annoying as hell sometimes."
"Yet you adore Donovan," Eris pointed out.
"Unfortunately."
They exited the house and made their way towards their home near the edge of Kokoto. A cozy, medium-sized home that was smaller than Eris's mansion, but one that was theirs and theirs only. She had bought it after officially renouncing her nobility.
"What were you doing anyway at Rowan's house?" Eris asked as they arrived at the gate to their home.
"Oh…We were just talking about things," he said as he fished for the keys in his pouch.
"What kind of things?"
"…Men things," he answered, briefly looking away. Eris narrowed her eyes at him but didn't prod him any further.
…
"Since you were in Dundorma, by any chance did you see my brother?" Rowan asked his wife as he sat down on his chair with a newspaper at hand. Their son laid on the couch, reading a book on monster biology.
Hilda answered from the kitchen. "Actually, I did. I had some time left so I visited the Academy to see how he was doing. He told me he was doing fine. I also met Amber there and from the looks of it, both seem to be accustomed to their new jobs already."
"Ah, good to know." To this day, it still made Rowan wonder how and why his brother took up a teaching job at the Academy. When he asked Romero, the only reason he gave was that he "felt like it".
"What were you and Siegfried talking about by the way?" Hilda asked her husband back.
Rowan hesitated for a brief moment before walking over to her and taking out the ring box from his pocket. "He was seeking advice about this."
The former huntress grinned. "Huh, it's about time they tie the knot. Four years of living together and I was beginning to wonder when they'll do it, considering they act as if they're married anyway."
"Yeah. I just didn't expect him to be nervous about this though."
"Reminds me of your proposal. I could tell you were nervous as hell back then."
"No, I wasn't!" Rowan protested.
"Yes, you were! You should have seen yourself; you were practically shaking! I had a feeling I knew what you were going to say to me."
"Yet you still cried."
She smiled demurely. "Fair enough." As they waited for the soup to boil, a thought came to her. "Ah, I almost forgot."
"Hmm?"
Hilda smirked. "Eris provided me with some…interesting news."
"Hoh? What kind?"
Hilda giggled. "Well, you see…"
A week later…
"Where are we going?" Eris asked him.
"Patience," he replied, flashing her that boyish grin she fell in love with so many years ago. Even though he had lost his left eye and now wore an eyepatch over it, he was still as handsome as the day she met him. His injury, however, had severely affected his ability to hunt. But Eris had been kind enough to support him throughout until he adapted to his more limited vision, something the hunter had been eternally grateful for, not that he'll admit it out loud.
Soon, they arrived at a familiar building. Eris recognized the colors and roof anywhere. "The village hall? Why are we here?"
"Patience." He opened the door and ushered her inside. Once there, she looked around the hall. It was completely empty, with all the furniture being stacked together at the corner. It brought forth the memory of the time she had taught Siegfried how to dance in this exact same empty hall. However, what was even more surprising was the man sitting behind the piano at the corner of the room. She immediately recognized the man as the one who had played the song for her and Siegfried during their dance practice.
"You?!"
The man waved at her. "Hello, Ms. Havencroft. It's been a while hasn't it?"
Eris turned back to Siegfried, narrowing her eyes at him. "What are you playing at here?"
Siegfried merely smirked and took her hand. Eris raised an eyebrow but didn't protest when he gently pulled her towards the center of the hall. He then held her hips. "I'm sure someone of your caliber can figure out what I'm implying here?"
"I never took you for the romantic type," she replied, moving her hands onto his shoulders. God, he could be a real charmer when he wanted to.
At the corner of the room, the man smiled and began to play the song, a familiar tune that Eris recognized. "Sieg you…"
"Even if that night brings back terrible memories, it also brings back good ones as well. I can never forget the dance we shared that night."
She beamed at him. "Me too."
To Eris's surprise, the man playing the piano began to sing – quite beautifully as well – while they slow danced. She gave Siegfried a confused look, to which the hunter shrugged his shoulders. "Just found out as well."
Looking back on the memory of
The dance we'd shared underneath the star above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you would ever say goodbye
They moved in tandem with the music, staring into each other's eyes as if they were each other's world. The man smiled as the couple continued to slow dance in the middle of the hall, ignoring everything around them. They were too occupied with each other to notice him and he was grateful for that.
"You can be surprisingly sweet you know that?"
"Not the first time you told me that, but I take pride in that thank you very much."
"It's true though. When I first met you, I really thought of you as abrasive, rude, and overall a complete asshole. Yet here we are, years later."
"And I thought of you as a complete frigid bitch. Guess we both made the wrong first impressions eh?"
"Yeah."
Holding you, I held everything
For a moment, oh, wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say, you know
I might have changed it all
Siegfried spun her around before pulling her back against his chest. He pressed a light kiss to the back of her neck, eliciting a giggle from the woman in his arms.
"What's with you today? You're acting uncharacteristically romantic."
"Do you not want me to?"
"No…I like it. It's a nice change of pace from your usual grumpy self."
Our lives are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
But I'd have had to miss the dance, the dance
I would have missed the dance, the dance
I would have missed the dance
"Your dancing is…"
"Better I presume?"
"Yes."
He hugged her closer. "I had a great teacher."
Eris smiled, sighing as she rested her head on his shoulder as they swayed lightly to the music. She found it odd that Siegfried was acting this way, not that she was complaining but…He can be genuinely sweet and endearing at times and Eris loved him for it (not that she'll admit it out loud though) but she had a feeling he was hiding something from her. She needed to know what.
"You know, as much I appreciate what you're doing here, I need you, to be honest with me Sieg." She pulled away from him. "What are you trying to tell me here?"
The hunter blinked at her a few times before waving at the pianist. "Stop the music please."
"Siegfried?"
He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Eris I…Look, there's something I want to ask you…"
Eris held her breath. She had a feeling she knew what it was. "What is it?"
"It's… something I've been wanting to ask you for a while now."
If it was what she thought it was, the huntress would have immediately answered him. But she held off, fearing that she might misunderstand his intentions. Plus, she had something to tell him as well. "Yes?"
He stood there, biting his lip for several seconds and fidgeting in his spot. Out of the corner of his one eye, he saw the pianist give a silent thumbs up. Steeling his nerves, he reached into his pocket, an action which the huntress noticed. She held her breath once more.
"Here. This is for you," he said, gingerly handing her a small leather box. Eris took it without hesitation and opened it. She covered her mouth with her free hand. She looked up at him, he was staring at her with his hands in his pockets, completely red-faced. She was too.
It was a beautiful diamond ring, complete with a tiny engraving of a flame on it.
"Yours is a flame, while mine is ice. We may be hot and cold, but that doesn't mean both can't join as one."
Oh, she was blushing madly. "God, y-you can be so…"
Siegfried smiled and took her hand. "I-I'm not the type to do all that mushy shit and declaring my undying love to you and all that so…What do you say?"
Eris already knew her answer. "…Yes."
He grinned and slipped the ring onto her finger. "And with that, our agreement has been set and all parties have given their consent."
Eris laughed as Siegfried pulled her into a tight embrace. "Idiot…What took you so long?" She reached up to stroke his cheek as they pressed their foreheads together.
"You knew?"
"Sort of, but you made me wait too long. I was wondering when you'd finally pop the question."
"Sorry about that. I was just too nervous about screwing things up and not wanting to rush things, considering it's you after all…"
"Well, you have the rest of our lives to make up for it." Her fingers lightly caressed his eyepatch and he leaned into her touch.
"You won't regret this," he whispered.
"I know I won't," she whispered back as their lips met in a passionate kiss. At the corner of the room, the pianist couldn't help but tear up at the loving display before him. It reminded him so much of him and his wife when they were younger.
After a few moments of pure bliss, they pulled apart. Both had uncharacteristically goofy smiles on their faces. Siegfried… Eris couldn't believe that she was marrying him. When she was younger, she had always dreamed of marrying a nice man and creating a family. But as she grew older and took up the ever-busy career of a hunter, it became less of an importance. Romance soon became an afterthought and she initially thought she'd grow old alone. But she never expected to one day run into the man that would become her husband. She hoped her mother would be proud of her from up there.
"Sieg, there's also something I want to tell you."
He looked at her quizzically. "Yeah?"
"Promise me you won't freak out."
"Depends."
Eris smirked. "I think…the three of us would need a bigger home."
He took a moment to register her words. "A bigger home? Do you want some renovations to our current house? Why, is there a problem with- Wait, did you…just say three?"
She nodded, grabbing his hand and placing it over her belly. "Our spawn says hello."
For several seconds, Siegfried stood there in silence, eyes as wide as saucers. "O-Oh…Oh shit…"
Eris's expression fell. "What? Are you not happy?"
"No, it's just…I thought you were taking the pills?"
"I stopped taking them six months ago." She immediately regretted it when she saw the betrayed look on his face. "I'm sorry I lied to you but you know I really want this. A family. I told you that already."
"I know. It's just…I don't know what to do. I mean, I'm happy – overjoyed even – that you're pregnant, but at the same time, I don't know what to say." He began to fidget in his spot. "After all the sins I committed…I don't know, I just feel like I don't deserve to hold a child in my arms."
At this, Eris grew angry. She stepped forward and slapped him in the face. "Don't give me that shit. You know I hate it when you're back to acting all depressed and regretful. Get a grip dammit!" She slapped him again. "Your past does not define who you are! Instead, look at the present and the future. The Siegfried I know is a strong, stubborn man who won't hesitate to defend those he cares about. He has also shown to me that he will not let the past tie him down. He will continue to push forward to a better future for himself and others." Eris grabbed him by the collar. "So don't tell me you don't deserve to hold our child in your arms. Those arms may have sinned, but they have also saved as well. If you can't get this in your head…then what the hell have we been doing these past few years?"
Eris was understandably angry, and Siegfried felt guilty for bringing up his self-deprecation again. If there was one thing he hated, it was Eris being unhappy. "You're right…I'm sorry for saying that stuff. Guess the nervousness got to me again."
She huffed. "Please don't ever say things like that again. Please just…think about our future now."
"I will, I promise you Eris." He pulled her into an embrace. "I'll make sure our child will never have to suffer the way we did."
"We, Siegfried. Aren't you forgetting that we're partners? I'm just as responsible as you are," she said, her breath tickling his ear.
He chuckled. "Right." He glanced towards the corner of the room and gave the man a reassuring smile. "No issues here!" he said to the nervous man, who breathed a sigh of relief. The two didn't let go of each other, comfortable within each other's arms.
"Have you thought of a name yet?"
Resting her cheek against his shoulder, Eris took a moment to think. "Well, if it's a girl then…How does Alexandria sound? We can call her Alex for short."
"Alex…I like it. It's not too feminine either." He paused for a moment. "And if it's a boy…Johann would be a good name."
"Johann huh…"
"It is the name of the man who gave me a second chance in life. The one who kickstarted my career as a hunter. He passed away several years back and I never got a chance to properly mourn him."
"I see." Eris then felt Siegfried tighten his arms around her. He spoke in a low voice that Eris recognized so well and (admittedly) found incredibly sexy.
"I vow to you this. We'll protect this child with our lives. And to those who dare to hurt our new family-"
"-we'll make them pay…no matter who they are. I vow to you this as well." Eris completed for him, speaking in her Ice Queen voice and pressing herself closer to her fiancé. It was a promise, that they both intended to take to their graves.
…
If you've enjoyed reading this, do leave a review/comment with your thoughts. I will take any form of criticism so as long as you're not toxic. With that out of the way, thank you so much for reading this story. See ya.